Question

Read the following passage from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein:

I saw how the fine form of man was degraded and wasted; . . . I saw how the worm inherited the wonders of the eye and brain.
Which element of Gothic literature is most evident in this excerpt from Frankenstein?
A. An emphasis on death and decay
B. A spooky setting
C. Physical terror
D. Psychological terror

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Option A. An emphasis on death and decay.

Gothic literature is known for containing elements of horror and romance, as well as the presence of supernatural beings.

Regarding the excerpt, the speaker refers to a body in its decaying state - which inherently references death -, and how pleasing this scene is for them. Acknowledging the rest of the piece, the supernatural state of Frankenstein's monster can be taken in account to further evidence the gothic nature of this example.

Answer 2

The correct answer is A. an emphasis on death and decay.

If you read the excerpt, you will see that the narrator is talking about the decomposition of a human body. He says that he 'saw hot the fine form of man was degraded and wasted,' meaning that the person is dead and his body is going through some postmortem changes. These kinds of topics often appear in Gothic literature.